The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-26
The SOIL.

The SOIL.
The soil on which the Sewer casts the seeds
of the kingdom of truth and holiness is hui
man minds and hearts, of varying degrees of
receptivity. The people who attended JESUS
ministry are characterized in the parable.
Four classes of hearers are represented in
the descriptions:
1. Those without spiritual perception are
represented by the trodden soil of the road
side. They hear the word, but do not COM
prehend its meaning. 1t merely lies in the
surface of the mind, and does not penetrate
into it, nor touch the heart, so as to get soil
into which to grow into character and con-
duct. The truth falls on the ears of such, but
not having entered the heart is snatched
away by evil thoughts and purposes, like the
seed sown on the wayside which the birds
devour.
2. People of shallow mind and impulsive
nature are represented by the thin soil on
the lodges, in which the seed quickly germin-
ates, and the plant soon withers and dies be-
cause it has no depth of root. Such people
hear the truth and embrace it with enthusi-
asm, but having no grasp of mind or depth
of feeling fall away from their adherence as
soon as hardship or self-denial is demanded
as a duty or required to maintain and pro-
mote it. They hear and rejoicingly accept
the truth, but it does not bear fruit in their
lives because they have not depth of mind to
grasp it firmly and persevere in their adher-
ence to it in the face of opposition and trial.
They are superficial in thought and judg-
ment as we'll as in feeling. The transient
glow of quick emotion is often the sign of
shallow nature, and not of deep feeling or
firm conviction. 1t is often the case that su-
perfcial and transient religious impressions
produce a speedier and more demonstrative
joy than those which are deeper and genuine.
But the deepest and most genuine religious
experiences do produce a true and abiding
joy, the product of a strong conviction of the
truth and persistent adherence to duty.
8. Seeds which grow among weeds, even in
deep, rich soil, do not grow to full maturity.
This fact symbolizes those who understand
ingly hear and accept the truths of the Cos
pei, but are so interested in and busy with
the temporal cares of life and efforts to accu-
mulate wealth and secure its pleasures, that
they find no convenient time or season to
cultivate their religious life, or to devote to
the cause and kingdom of truth, righteous
ness and joy. The lives of such are relig-
iously unfruitful not from any defect in the
quality of their natures, but for want of
proper culture. "The cares, and riches, and
pleasures of life" duke viii. 14). prevent the
maturing of the fruits of the Spirit. Not
that these things necessarily hinder the
growth of the soul, he divine truth and
grace received in it, but the multitude and
magnitude of them. Business is needful,
property desirable, and pleasure enjoyable;
but they are calamitous when they exclude
the religious culture of the mind and heart,
and interfere with spiritual business, destroy
spiritual riches, and prevent spiritual enjoy
ment.
4. The good soil, upon which the sower
cast his seed which yielded an abundant har-
vest, represent those among the multitudes
who attended JESUS ministry and heard him
gladly, and understood what they heard, and
received his gracious words into good and
honest hearts, aud persevered in their right
eous endeavors to conform their lives to his
bohCuluB5 Auu tuue W onIoE MS AluBuOn anu
enjoy its heavenly blessings. The Gospel
produces I" fruit to perfection" when the
spiritual circumstances favor. To be signal
ly blessed and saved by it it must fall upon
willing ears. be accepted by an understand
ing mind, cherished in a sincere heart, and
the foundation of character and conduct in
an active, earnest, Christian life. Varying
degrees of spiritual receptivity and capacity
and capsbility are recognized. There are diff
erences of natural endowments, and oppor-
tunities of active effort. The fruits of the
Gospel in individual lives equally sincere and
earnest, are more or less, according to Ca
pscity and capability and varying circum-
stances. Spiritual conditions may be chang
ed and improved. Souls that are hardened
may be broken up" by the divine plough
share; emotional and ftful natures may be
Gained aud deepened by the providential eI-
periences of life; the weeds of error may be
uprooted, and things temporal subordinated
to things spiritual and eternal. The hus-
bandman may improve the conditions and
quality of the soil upon which the sower casts
the seed.